Six months after the Eureka Board of Aldermen approved plans for Starbucks to build a location in the city, the national coffeehouse company has decided to change course.
Eureka Mayor Sean Flower said the proposed Starbucks coffee shop at 33 Truitt Drive off Hwy. 109 near Earthbound Recycling has fallen through.
Flower said the withdrawal may have stemmed from a corporate changeover in the coffeehouse chain.
Brian Niccol, former CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, took over as chairman and CEO of Starbucks in September 2024. He said in an open letter called “Back to Starbucks” that the company will be refocusing its brand under his leadership, with an emphasis on revamping existing stores and scaling back new location openings in 2025.
Niccol replaced Laxman Narasimhan, who stepped down as CEO after a year and a half at the helm. Niccol marks Starbucks’ fourth CEO in the last five years.
“I think they canceled, nationwide, a huge number of Starbucks locations,” Flower said. “The Eureka one got caught in a transition. I’ve spoken with (the owners of the 33 Truitt Drive property) several times, and I believe they feel pretty good they’re going to find a good alternative.”
Board members voted unanimously on Dec. 17 to approve plans from Starbucks to build the shop. Starbucks is a chain of coffeehouses headquartered in Seattle, Wash., with more than 40,000 locations in 87 countries. The company specializes in personalized drinks, bakery items, and whole coffee beans or grounds for purchase.
Flower said he does not believe Starbucks’ decision to withdraw development plans in Eureka stems from the quality of the location.
“It wasn’t like Starbucks pulled out because of a market issue or were skeptical of the location,” he said. “I think (Starbucks) was looking to cut costs in the short term. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have something else open up there, and Starbucks comes back disappointed they don’t have the slot.”